Benson’s coming off three straight 1,000-yard seasons, and at 29 years old, shouldn’t have hit the wall.

Darren McFadden’s clearly the guy in Oakland, but they don’t have much behind him.

They traded spare-part for spare-part to get Mike Goodson from Carolina (in exchange for backup offensive lineman Bruce Campbell), but Goodson’s more of a flashy return man with a fumbling problem, capable of a home run and a strikeout in consecutive carries.

After Michael Bush left for Chicago, he cleared what seems to be an obvious spot for Benson, and it looks like that’s getting closer.

Signing Bengals cast offs doesn’t exactly seem to be the best way of building a serious contender.

EJ says:Jun 19, 2012 6:35 PM

McFadden and Benson would make a sharp duo. Two different styles, but both very capable backs. The two of them remind me of CJ Spiller and Freddy Jackson. Speed and finesse. McFadden or Spiller hit open field and they are gone. Benson or Jackson will wear opposing defenses down as they stiff arm their way for those extra 2-3 yards that looked impossible to get.
This would be a great pickup for Oakland.

Benson only makes sense if Goodson and Jones have been looking bad in pass protection..which I’m sure that haven’t been able to see until training camp starts. I wouldn’t hate the move, I think Reece and Owen would be able to handle short yard situations, but I really want to see what Jones can do this year with a little more meat on his bones.

Big Reg is looking at an insurance policy as any smart GM should. With Run DMC, there’s always a possibility of sitting due to injury and since his two backups are unproven, why not sign CB to the veteran minimum before training camp starts? Once training camps get going, there will be running backs getting tweaked and CB’s phone will be ringing off the hook then unless you sign him now.

Benson should improve his rushing stats after leaving a poor run-blocking OL. He doesn’t like sharing his carries, though. If the Raiders don’t intend to give him 80% of the carries there may be locker room issues.

For all the idiots who say “Green Bay West” try to remember, Reggie McKenzie is first and foremost a Raider, he didnt play for Green Bay jerks. And as far as the Bengals, Palmer is the only player from Cincinatti on the Oakland roster now. Hue Jackson is gone, so if you’re gonna show you’re a Hater, try to be accurate at least ya idiots.

villa41 says:Jun 20, 2012 12:51 PM

This would just be the icing on the cake for a very good, under the radar Raiders offseason, regardless of what the critics and haters say. Benson is realizing the market isn’t there for him to make big money. He’s made a few mistakes, but there could be far worse guys to have on a team. The new regime in Oakland should keep him in line. It would be clear to Benson that DMAC is the big dog. Benson would get carries, though. The guy is still productive.

This to me is a low risk high reward move if Oakland gets him at the right price (and I think they can). The only guy we have lost this offseason that matters is Bush. Picking up this guy plugs that hold and then some.